County now requires masks in all public buildings

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By HEATHER RUPPE

Colleton County officials are now requiring members of the public wear masks while inside a county—operated building.

The requirement went into effect on Sept. 9th, and says that anyone inside public areas of Colleton County buildings will be required to wear face coverings. This includes “employees, vendors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status,” according to information released by the county.

“Signage regarding the mask requirement will be posted at all public entrances to count buildings,” said Meagan Utsey, Administrative Services director for Colleton County.

The decision was made by county leaders and released on Sept. 8th, amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases in Colleton County and in South Carolina.

However, this requirement is only for county buildings. It is not a universal ordinance or a county mandate, meaning there is no penalty for anyone who violates the mask request.

City of Walterboro officials have not released any requirements for face masks or coverings.

However, Walterboro Assistant Manager Hank Amundson said city officials “strongly recommend” the use of masks in public. Amundson also said that local leaders support a “business’s right to require masks in their establishment.”

“The City also strongly recommends that all eligible people get vaccinated in order to help curtail the terrible damage to our community that COVID-19 continues to cause,” he said.